Lev Lafayette's journal

The two days conducting training for the researchers at the Centre for Health Research, covering Linux, PBS job submission, MPI programming, and PostgreSQL, went well. Didn't see much of Sydney however; just a bit of Randwick and some of the UNSW campus. On Friday was invited and attended a small roundtable session of the Review of the Innovation Patents System. There was some acceptance of the industry-specific benefits of patents, the fact that monopolies may be more of a problem, that the bar for innovation patents is too low (Griffin vs Isaacs preferred), and that mediative processes should be used to reduce vexatious legal proceedings.

The following day attended Software Freedom Day, where I was the co-organiser, MC, and gave the final talk. It was well-attended (albeit a little smaller than last year due to less advertising), and apparently enjoyed by those present. The talk was on Beyond Software - Steps Towards A Free Society, which discussed positive and negative liberty, rights and justice, and their application to the free software movement. Following this was the Isocracy Network annual general meeting which had Greg Denham of LEAP presenting on why the "war on drugs" must end. In assistance in both cases caseopaya must be mentioned as an excellently helpful auxiliary.

Results came in for the Agile Project Management; a high distinction was awarded. This week's topic in tertiary and education policy was the funding regime, particularly looking at the successes and issues of the HECS/HELP income-contingent deferred loans scheme. For alternate reality social adventures, gaming on Thursday concluded the Pendragon adventures on the Heart Sword and the Castle of Tears, both from Blood and Lust. Sunday's session of Leagues of Adventure 1889 saw the conclusion of the Carboniferous-style natural disaster of Victorian Mercury, and the initiation of another journey to Luna.

As per opinion poll expectations, the Labor Party has been defeated in the Federal election. Slightly annoyed that the leaders of the ALP and the Greens failed to work cooperatively in the campaign, providing numerous examples of resource wasting, not to mention the damaging effects of the factional infighting; as Beattie observed the ALP was far better at governing the country than governing themselves. Abbott will now have to face up to his improbable collection of promises which, as listed, will mean a shift in income and wealth from the poor to the rich and will damage Australia's economic and technological growth. The damaged version of the National Broadband Network being a combination of both negative factors.

Have been working through an free short Agile Project Management course run by Charles Sturt University. It certainly some benefits worth keeping in mind, but doesn't serve as a particularly strong methodology. The greatest weakness, I believe, would be the ease in which it can be misapplied as general sloppiness. In more comprehensive academic progress, took the initiative in starting the online discussion for Participation and Access for Tertiary Education Policy. Next up is an analysis of the 2008 Bradley Review of Higher Education.

My review of Lord of the Rings Roleplaying Game has been published on RPG.net; a beautifully produced game with some lovely features, but sloppy editing and dull combat system (of all things!) puts the ratings down. This follows on my review of Albedo a somewhat strange combination of anthromorphics and hard simulationist science fiction. Thursday was another session of Pendragon which is reaching the apex of the "Romance period", before heading off to do engage in demon-hunting in Ireland. Tomorrow is another episode of Space 1889 on the Victorian-era fantasy of Mercury, which is an opportunity and excuse for some steampunk attitude and props.